Player of the Game | Anthony Livingston on his birthday with 10-17 FGs, 3-7 three-pointers, 10-11 FTs, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 33 points. He was the reason Tech stayed in this game, and he won it for our Red Raiders.
Stat of the Game | Team free throws for Texas Tech where we went 20-23 (87%) from the charity stripe. When the game is on the line, and it is a tight finish free throws will win games. Our team did their part to get the victory.
How the Game was Won | Back-and-forth scores for the teams, trading the lead often. Texas Tech was trailing Rice 79-84 with 34 seconds remaining. Keenan Evans hit a three point bucket with 20 seconds to go, and Texas Tech called the timeout to draw up our defensive strategy. We fouled a Rice player with 13 seconds left on the board. He missed 2 crucial free throws to give life to Texas Tech as Zach Smith grabbed the rebound. With 2 seconds left on the clock Anthony Livingston was fouled as he used his veteran skill to get his defender in the air and draw the foul as he was shooting from downtown. He drained all three free throws like a pro to make the score 85-84, and Rice took a halfcourt shot that did not get close to going in the basket as the buzzer sounded. The Red Raiders completed the comeback with incredible fashion. Wreck ’em Tech!!!
Turning Point | When Connor Cashaw missed his 2 free throws for Rice, and Zach Smith rebounded the ball with 13 seconds left in the game, it left the door open for Texas Tech. All it would have taken was 2 free throws to put a dagger into our hearts. Glad it did not happen.